A Player’s Guide to Clothing, Class, and Clan Style: The Albion Victorian LARP

You Do Not Need an Expensive Costume

Players should not feel that they must spend hundreds of dollars to participate.

A very simple Victorian men's outfit might consist of:

Dark trousers + white shirt + waistcoat + cravat + boots.

A simple women's outfit might consist of:

Long skirt + blouse + fitted jacket or shawl + boots.

From there, accessories can gradually build the character.

A pocket watch can suggest wealth.

A battered notebook can suggest a journalist.

Gloves and a cane can suggest aristocracy.

A worn satchel can suggest a scholar.

A heavy coat can turn someone into a dockworker or traveler.

A cameo, signet ring, military medal, rosary, occult symbol, or Clan-inspired piece of jewelry can become part of the character's story.

Dark Colors Are Welcome—but Not Required

Because this is Vampire: The Masquerade, black, gray, burgundy, dark green, brown, navy, and other subdued colors naturally work well.

However, Victorian people did not walk around dressed entirely in black.

Wealthy Victorians often wore rich colors, patterned waistcoats, decorative fabrics, jewelry, and elaborate accessories. Toreador especially should feel free to bring some color into London's darkness.

The goal is not to make every character look like the same Gothic vampire.

The goal is to make them look like different people who inhabit Victorian London—and just happen to be monsters.

Build the Character Through the Clothing

When preparing for an Albion Victorian LARP event, ask yourself three questions:

What would my character wear?

What can my character afford?

What does my character want everyone else to think they are?

The Ventrue banker and Brujah dockworker may both be centuries-old vampires, but their clothing should tell two completely different stories.

One enters Elysium wearing polished boots, a tailored coat, gloves, and a gold watch.

The other arrives in a worn waistcoat, heavy boots, rolled sleeves, and a coat that still carries the smoke and grime of London's streets.

Both belong in Victorian London.

And both may be far more dangerous than they appear.

For the Albion Victorian LARP, historical inspiration is encouraged, character identity is more important than perfection, and players should always choose clothing they can comfortably wear throughout an evening of live-action roleplay.